Anti-Poverty Work and the Binghamton-Broome Anti-Poverty Initiative

Did you know United Way of Broome County works to reduce poverty in our community?

The Binghamton-Broome Anti-Poverty Initiative (BBAPI) is a community-driven effort to break the cycle of poverty in Broome County. Aligning with the 12th Proposal of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2016 agenda of combating poverty and reducing inequalities across upstate New York. BBAPI was launched in the spring of 2016 through the vision of Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and convened by United Way of Broome County.

By applying the Collective Impact framework to first explore, then address the root causes of poverty, BBAPI focuses on creating systems-level social change to find solutions to the immediate and long-term barriers affecting individuals impacted by poverty. With a systems-change approach, BBAPI works to empower individuals and families and create vibrant neighborhoods, where residents feel safe and will live healthy financially-stable lives.

Through BBAPI, four priority areas: transportation, childcare, housing, and services, supports, & community and civic engagement, were identified as barriers keeping community members in poverty that need to be addressed. Through a competitive Request for Proposals process, 11 programs were chosen for funding. Each program aims to address one or more of these priority areas and is working to decrease these barriers.

The program goal is to increase access to employment opportunities for historically marginalized youth that supports their career development and improves their economic stability. The YEPP program will connect historically marginalized youth to summer employment opportunities, computer training and certificate program and job fair series.

Catholic Charities of Broome County - Community Empowerment Center

The program’s goal is to establish a community empowerment center to provide services, supports and mentoring to low-income individuals in pursuit of productive and financially stable lives.

In collaboration with Promise Zone, this program targets at-risk youth who have been exposed to adverse childhood experiences and high rates of trauma. To create meaningful connections with youth and families to reduce further trauma, reduce poverty, and help families thrive through education sessions and case management.

Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network - Women's Empowerment Circle

The Women’s Empowerment Circle will work with single mothers between the ages of 18 and 32 to identify barriers to employment and/or education while teaching them the skills to reach their goals. The Women’s Empowerment Circle will assist the participants with obtaining gainful employment and/or continuing their education. Over the course of a year, women in the program will attend a Personal Skills Academy and a Career Academy, at the end of which participants will receive a certificate of completion. During the last 6 months of the program, Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network, or one of our partner agencies, will provide program participants with a part-time employment opportunity.

Rural Health Network of South Central New York - Getthere Transportation to Employment Program (TEP)

TEP will benefit low-income Binghamton residents who are unemployed, underemployed or seeking employment and have identified transportation as a barrier. Transportation vouchers, and case management and travel counseling (pursuant to securing long term affordable transportation) will be provided.

The Research Foundation of the State of New York - Broome County HEARS Adult Empowerment Series

Series will provide participants with increased skills in leadership, teamwork, program planning, project implementation and evaluation practices. Acquired skills will help participants set clear education, employment and community participation goals.

The Salvation Army - Pathway of Hope Family Empowerment Center (POH)

POH is a national Salvation Army program designed to provide long term intervention through a high-intensity, wrap around approach to meet the needs of low-income families in the transition to self-sufficiency. Focus on impacting intergenerational poverty.

UMEA contracts with minority-owned businesses in the community to provide business networking and professional services to members. UMEA Trades Apprenticeship Program combines the training and apprenticeship hours needed to obtain licenses with business formation technical assistance and MWBE certification. This program will work to assist Minority-owned and community-based businesses with expansion, job creation in underserved communities business expansion.

This work readiness program will work to meet the technology, media and communications training needs of up to 200 individuals who classify as unemployed, underemployed or TANF/TANF 200% eligible.

United Way of Broome County - Binghamton Community Advocates Project (BCAP)

BCAP is a group of individuals with lived experience aiming to change the way people think about being poor. BCAP is working with a focus on making a community impact; this project is not solely about the individual. It’s a movement lead by individuals looking inward, into themselves with the intention of taking their newfound empowerment and skill then extending outward to help others find the same within themselves, helping to build the community: a community of people helping people who will pass that along to others.

WSKG Public Telecommunications Council - Chasing the Dream

Produced by WSKG, Chasing the Dream is a television series that sheds light on the severity of local poverty statistics, daily challenges faced by those living in poverty, root causes of local poverty, the reality of what poverty looks like in our region with real-life stories of individuals and businesses, and the successes and challenges of poverty-reduction efforts taking place in our communities.

These 11 projects are working and seeing progress along the way. BBAPI works to empower individuals and families and create vibrant neighborhoods. Reducing poverty in our community will require long-term efforts that will be successful when the barriers keeping community members in poverty are addressed. BBAPI will make a difference.